wary
AdjectiveUS[wer-ee]/ˈwɛri/2 syllables
Open English WordNet
Adjective (2)warier, wariest
- marked by keen caution and watchful prudence“they were wary in their movements”“a wary glance at the black clouds”“taught to be wary of strangers”Opposite unwarySimilar on guard, shyRelates to wariness, charinessSee also alert, watchful
- openly distrustful and unwilling to confideSynonyms: leerymistrustfulsuspiciousuntrustingOpposite trustfulSimilar distrustful
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hiatusnoun
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Wa′ry adjective [Compar. Warier; superlative Wariest.]
Origin: OE. war, AS. wær; akin to Icel. v…rr, Dan. & Sw. var, Goth. wars, G. gewahr aware, OHG. wara notice, attention, Gr. … to see. Cf. Aware, Garment, Garnish, Garrison, Panorama, Ward, transitive verb Ware, adjective, Warren.
1. Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful. “Bear a wary eye.” William Shakespeare
We should be wary, therefore, what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men.— John Milton
2. Characterized by caution; guarded; careful.
It behoveth our words to be wary and few.— Richard Hooker
Synonyms: Cautious; circumspect; watchful. See Cautious.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54